The Setup

Enjoying the late summer atmosphere in the garden shack, I operated the FT-891 at 75 watts. I used the NFP straight key for leisurely QRS exchanges, switching to the 9A5N Solid State Paddle when the higher speeds of HSC qualifying demanded more agility.

The Antenna System

For the antenna, I used a 10-meter vertical constructed from a fiberglass telescopic pole supporting a 1mm thick wire. The CG-3000 automatic tuner worked its magic at the base, effortlessly matching this setup across the entire spectrum from 10m down to 80m.

Above: A collection of snapshots from the session, featuring the Navy FP.

The Highlight: A DX QSO with ZL3XDJ

All the bands were alive with great propagation, inviting me to linger primarily on 30m. I was thrilled to log a contact with ZL3XDJ down in New Zealand, securing a 339/459 report using my Navy Flame Proof Key.